Jen Psaki leaving White House

White House Deputy Communications Director Jennifer Psaki, one of the longest-serving members of Team Obama, will leave the White House on Thursday to head the Washington office of the public affairs and research firm Global Strategy Group.

The CEO of New-York-based Global Strategy Group is Jon Silvan, and the president is Jefrey Pollock.

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Psaki, called “Jen” by President Barack Obama and her colleagues, has been known as an island of calm and karma aboard the campaign plane and later in the tumultuous West Wing. She will start Oct. 17 as senior vice president and managing director at Global Strategy Group. Psaki started talking to the firm this summer and accepted the job in mid-August, but delayed her departure to allow for a transition and so she could tell West Wing officials in person.

A person close to Psaki said she hopes to continue supporting the president on the outside as a surrogate. The decision was incredibly difficult for Psaki, but she was attracted by the opportunity to build and run her own team. Administration officials made a strong push for her to stay.

Psaki, 32, started with the Obama campaign as deputy press secretary in February 2007, then became traveling press secretary in the fall. She flew to 47 states (all but Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama) and five countries with the then-senator.

Psaki’s portfolio has included economic and financial-regulatory policy, and she has survived crises ranging from the flap over Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the Gulf oil spill.

White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said: “There is no smarter or better person in politics today than Jen Psaki. For four and a half years, Jen has been an absolutely essential member of the president’s team. Everyone at the White House — the president, the staff, the reporters and especially me — will miss her contributions to all of us and the country.”

Jon Silvan, the CEO, said: “We are thrilled to have Jen coming on board to lead and build our growing D.C. office. Jen’s wealth of communications and public affairs experience will be a tremendous asset to all of our political, advocacy and corporate clients.”